When i did the suspension on my e46xi, i just removed the swaybar endlink from the strut, i then set a jack under the rotor to support the assembly. You would then disconnect the pinch bolt from the hub and then the strut should come free and you should have enough room to wiggle it out after removing the nuts from under the hood. I would think the process should be pretty much the same.

Yea you have little space to work with. Take the whole strut assembly out.

If your using those spring compressors from auto parts stores, they won't compress the OEM spring fully. When you remove the nut holding the strut hat on, it will pop off so be careful.

Also if you aren't installing lower springs, forget about using those shitty spring compressors. I found it impossible to compress the OEM springs back onto the OEM sturt without a wall mounted spring compressor.

Also when I did springs on my xi, the front output shaft froze up and I couldn't get the strut back into the fender. So I ended up taking the whole assembly out.

Great info guys. Is there a DIY walk through of removing the shock assembly? Does it involved removing ball joints? Ball joints and I don't get along. I ruin them every time I try to remove them. (edit: I'm no noob to this work, just not familiar with the XI front end. I've replaced everything there is to replace on my e30.)

I'm thinking of being a guinea pig and trying the Eibach 335i springs (2092.140) on my E91 328ix. I have worked out the weight distribution: